Lymphedema Pathophysiology: Swelling of the lymphatic passages due to a blockage caused by infection, injury, radiation, cellulitis, surgery or tumors resulting in the inability of lymph fluid to pass and flow freely. This is often seen in patients with breast cancer who have undergone a mastectomy. This condition does not resolve by itself and may become worse if left untreated. Signs and Symptoms: persistent/chronic swelling of the affected area feeling heavy, tight and/or prickly
Labs/Diagnostics: CT MRI Lymphangiography (x-ray of lymph nodes and lymph vessels)
Lymphoscintigraphy (radioactive substance that flows through the lymph ducts to the lymph nodes. It is used to check for tumor cells.
Treatments/Medications: compression with bandages manual lymph drainage (MLD) (Light massage therapy performed in a systematic direction to assist in draining lymphatic fluid) range of motion exercises surgery (certain cases only, limited success, does not cure)
Surgical Options: Liposuction Removal of abnormal lymphatic tissue transplant of normal lymphatic tissue
Prevention: prevent injury prevent infection prevent skin breakdown (provide good skin care and hygiene) perform light exercise and range of motion exercises (under supervision of physical therapist) wear compression stockings Pneumatic compression pump
Nursing Interventions: keep effected extremity elevated give medications as ordered address patients anxiety and answer questions they may have educate on importance of follow-up appointments patient teaching addressing teaching plan
Pathophysiology: Swelling of the lymphatic passages due to a blockage caused by infection, injury, radiation, cellulitis, surgery or tumors resulting in the inability of lymph fluid to pass and flow freely. This is often seen in patients with breast cancer who have undergone a mastectomy. This condition does not resolve by itself and may become worse if left untreated.
Signs and Symptoms:
persistent/chronic swelling of the affected area
feeling heavy, tight and/or prickly
Labs/Diagnostics:
CT
MRI
Lymphangiography (x-ray of lymph nodes and lymph vessels)
Lymphoscintigraphy (radioactive substance that flows through the lymph ducts to the lymph nodes. It is used to check for tumor cells.
Treatments/Medications:
compression with bandages
manual lymph drainage (MLD) (Light massage therapy performed in a systematic direction to assist in draining lymphatic fluid)
range of motion exercises
surgery (certain cases only, limited success, does not cure)
Surgical Options:
Liposuction
Removal of abnormal lymphatic tissue
transplant of normal lymphatic tissue
Prevention:
prevent injury
prevent infection
prevent skin breakdown (provide good skin care and hygiene)
perform light exercise and range of motion exercises (under supervision of physical therapist)
wear compression stockings
Pneumatic compression pump
Nursing Interventions:
keep effected extremity elevated
give medications as ordered
address patients anxiety and answer questions they may have
educate on importance of follow-up appointments
patient teaching addressing teaching plan
Resources
http://whttp://www.lymphatictouch.com/
http://www.lymphatictouch.com/
lymphacare.comlymphacare.comlymphacare.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002106/
http://www.ajronline.org/content/187/2/556.full
http://radiology.casereports.net/index.php/rcr/article/viewArticle/444/773